New Pak COAS praised by ex-Indian army chief

Former Indian Army chief General Bikram Singh has praised Pakistan’s incoming Chief of Army Staff Lt Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa calling him a true “professional”.

“In the UN operations, Gen Bajwa’s performance was totally professional and outstanding,” Gen Singh was quoted as saying by Times of India as he described the time when Gen Bajwa had served under him on a United Nations assignment in Congo.

He added, “A military officer’s conduct in the international environment is different from the way he conducts himself back home. There, he is governed by his country’s national interests,” he was quoted.

General Bikram Singh was the 25th Chief of Army Staff of the Indian Army and held the post until July 31, 2014. He was also the Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee of the Indian armed forces.

Another Indian army official, who was not identified in the story, was quoted saying, “Gen Bajwa is well-versed with the complexities, nature of operations and terrain along the LoC. He has also handled Kashmir extensively during his career.”

A day earlier, Lt Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa, a career infantry officer belonging to the Baloch Regiment, was chosen as Pakistan’s next Chief of Army Staff. He will be promoted to the rank of a four-star general and will take up his new post from Tuesday, the day the current army chief Raheel Sharif retires.